Railway-switch-point protector



Dec. 3, 1929. w TREGQ 1,737,984

RAILWAY SWITCH POINT PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 22, 1927 Inventor n WTJ. 2 0, J

' A ttornqy Patented 'Dec. 3, 1929 UNETED STATES WILLIAM J. TBEGO, OF HUTGHINSON, KANSAS RAILWAY-SWITGH-POINT PROTECTOR Application filed December 22, 1927. Serial No. 241,916.

The present invention relates to a switch point protector for railways and has for an object to provide a track attaching member arranged to engage the flange of a car Wheel opposite from the wheel travelling over the outer switch point and disposed in a position upon the rail so as to engage its respective wheel vvnereby to relieve the pressure of the outer wheel upon the switch point during the travelling of the wheel thereover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail attaching member of this character which may be easily and quickly replaced when necessary without interfering with any other part of the rail construction.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, efficient and reliable in performance, inexpensive to manufacture and install in operative position and otherwise Well aoaptcd to the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction and combination of the various elements comprising the invention, reference being had to the accompany ng drawings forming a part hereof wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a railway switch section showing my invention in operative position with respect thereto, and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the rail and switch point protector taken substantially along a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail my 1nvention comprises a railway switch point protector including an elongated body 5 having one side thereof, as indicated at 6, shaped in a suitable manner to abut one side of the vertical section 7 of a railway rail with its upper edge fitted under the head 8 of the rail and its lower edge seated upon the upper surface of the flange 9 thereof.

The other side of the protector disposed remote from the rail has its bottom edge 10 disposed at a horizontal plane below the bottom edge of the other side thereof whereby to enable the lower edge 10 to be supported upon the tie plate 11 together with the base of the rail.

The upper edge of the protector at the side thereof remote from the rail is formed into a longitudinally extending flange 12 having its upper surface disposed at a horizontal plane with the upper surface of the rail head 8, said flange 12 being spaced from the adjacent edge of the rail head to enable the flange of the car wlieel to freely pass therebetween. The inner edge ateach end of the fie nge is beveled as indicated at 13 to serve as a guide for the flange of the wheel as the same passes thereover.

The protector may be firmly secured in position with respect to the rail 7 by means of bolts 14 or the like extending transversely therethrough. Any suitable number of these bolts may be provided in order to provide a firm attaching means for the protector with the rail.

The protector is attached to the rail 15 of a switch section opposite from the switch point 16. and in a position slightly in advance with respect thereto. Upon the passing of a train over the switch section it will be apparent that the wheel of the car truck passing on the rail 15 will reach the protector slightly in advance of the opposite wheels so that the flange of said first named wheel will contact with the inner wall of the flange 12 of the protector so as to prevent the flanges of the opposite wheels from striking the switch point 16 with their flanged edges. In this manner the switch point 16 is relieved from the full lateral pressure of the car in guiding the same over the switch. The protector in this manner prevents wear upon the switch point and thus prolongs the life of the same. The protector can be constructed at a considerably less expense than the switch point and by equipping this section with protectors of this character a considerable saving may be made in the maintenance of the railway.

A web 17 constituting a brace may be formed on the outer face of the protector extending vertically of the same with its base seated upon the tie plate 11 and having a spike hole 18 provided adjacent theouter end of the brace and in the tie plate for further retaining the protector and the rail against creeping movement upon the ties.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its ad- 5 vantages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: a

In a switch point protector for railways comprising a body having one side shaped in conformity with the contour ofthe side of the rail below the rail head and snugly fitted against one side of the rail between the head and the flange thereof to provide a non-yielding support for the head and the entire side of the rail, said body having its opposite side extending in a vertical plane above and below said first named side where-' by to form a supporting base at the bottom of the body and a flange at the top thereof, said flange being disposed in spaced relation with the rail head and providing a passageway therebetween for the flange of a car wheel in passing over the rail and adapted 5 when placed in a predetermined position upon the rail to guide the wheel onto the switch section, and a brace formed at the side of the body remote from the rail with the lower portion thereof providing an ex- 3' tension of the supporting base and having a spike hole formed in said lower portion of the brace whereby to receive a spike to prevent creeping of the rail.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. I

WILLIAM J. TREGO. 

